Sequential controller



Sept. 2, 1941. R. E. BAssE'rT, JR

SEQUENTIAL CONTROLLER Filed' Nov. 12, 19323 4 sheets-sheet 1 MUN. NNQN NN QNQN @NON NSN EGW 9mm WQ NNWN NWN M+! AITNNN Sept. 2, 1941. R. E. BAssE1-r, JR

SEQ UENTIAL CONTROLLER 4 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Nov. 12, 1938 Sept. 2, 1941. E. BssE-rT, JR

SEQUENTIAL CONTROLLER Filed Nov. l2, 1938 '4 Sheets-Sheet 3 man Sept. 2, 1941. l R. E. BAssE-rr, JR 2,254,509

vSEQUENTIL CONTRIJLER Filed Nov. 12, l19:58 4 sheets-sheet 4 2&5

www@ if .25.5 .259D 25@ .22.9 ggf/'4' 221 11" 229 s Z 25g 252 221 .2.5 237 /lgs-O r L Q fry- Us 227 a E 221 M9" i ff .23@ 22.5/ 5:7 Jz/Uzzabr A f .Pez Z'drlzsis'el J3? 2426 2425 Patented Sept. 2, 1941 sEQUEN'rIAL CONTROLLER Rex Earl Bassett, Jr., South Bend, Ind., assignor to Bendix Home Appliances, Inc., South Bend, Ind., a corporation of Delaware Application November 12, 1938, Serial No. 240,163

(Cl. Z-33) 6 Claims.

This invention relates to sequential controllers and more particularly to electric control means for automatically controlling a machine so as to perform a series of operations in predetermined sequence.

detailsof a modified means for imparting intermittent rotary movement to the cam shaft of the controller shown. in Fig. 9;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary top plan view of the details of the intermittent movement imparting One of the objects of the invention is to promeans shown in Fig. 13; vide a sequential Ycontroller which is compact, in- Fig. is a fragmentary transverse vertical expensive to manufacture, and reliable in operasection taken, along the line |5|5 of Fig. 9; and tion and which may readily be removed from the Fig. 16 is a fragmentary transverse vertical machine for adjustment or repair; 10 section showing the details of the circuit con- Another object of 4the invention is to provide. trolling members of Fig'. 9. a sequential controller in which the automatic Referring more particularly to Figures 1 to 8 operation may be manually overruled to out out there is shown a sequential control'switch paror vary one or more of the sequences. ticularly adapted for use withv an automatic Still another object of the invention is to pro- 15 Washing machine. As shown the controller comvide a sequential controlling including cam opl prises a receptacle |36 adapted to enclose an erated switches in which the cam is driven inelectric motor or other` driving means and a termittently iny steps large enough to insure housing |31 for the circuit'controlling means. movement of the switches from one position to The receptacle |36 is provided with a pair of another. With this arrangement extreme acears |38, only one of which is shown, for securcuracy in the manufacture of the cam or cams ing thel receptacle to the apparatus to be conis not necessary. trolled. It is also provided with an opening on Other objects, advantages and novel features its rear end through which a pair of conductors of the invention will be apparent from the fol- |39 extend to the motor mounted Within portion lowing description of the embodiments shown |4| of the receptacle. The motor is adapted to in the accompanying drawings, in which: drive, through suitable gearing in portion |42 Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partially in section, of the receptacle, a drive shaft |43 to the end of l of a sequential controller embodying the inwhich is secured a cam |44. The cam imparts vention; intermittent unidirectional motion to a shaft |45 Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal section 3o journaled for rotation at its-rear end in a beartaken through the switch operating cam and ing |46 mounted in a support |41. switch members of the controller shown in Fig. 1; The support |41 is spaced from the gear con- Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section taken taining portion |42 of the receptacle by an analong the line 3--3 of Fig. 1 and showing the denular metallic shell |48, and is secured to the tails of a modified means for imparting interportion |42 by a plurality of screw bolts |49. mittent rotary movement to the cam shaft of The front end of shaft is journaled for rothe controller; tation in an yannular end portion made of three Fig. 4 is a fragmentary transverse vertical seccircular plates |5|, |52 and|53 made of suitable tion taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; insulating material and held in spaced relation- Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical cross-section ,40 ship to the support |41 by a bent-over tongue taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. l; portion |54 formed at the forward end of a me- Fig. 6 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectallic cylindrical shell |55 secured to the support tion taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 1; |41 by a plurality of peripherally spaced screw Fig. 7 is a fragmentary transverse vertical bolts |56. 1 section taken along the line 1-1 of Fig. 2; 45 The cylindrical shell |55 is provided with an Fig. 8 is a fragmentary transverse vertica Vinner insulating lining |51 and is also provided section taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 2; with a flanged opening |58 through which the Fig. 9 is a longitudinal vertical section view various conductors are connected to the termiof another modification of the controller; nais |59.

` Fig. 10 is a transverse vertical section on a 50 The terminals |59 are formed integrally with reduced scale taken along the line |0|0 of sockets |6I which are positioned -in openingsin` Fig. 9; the middle disc |52 and are held in place by the Fig. 1l .is a perspective view of one of the cirinner disc |5| which has a plurality of apertures cuit controlling members shown in Fig. 9; through which the sockets and terminals pro` Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudi- 55 ject. l nal section View through the sWit-ch operating A ratchet Wheel |64 is xedly secured to shaft cam and switch members of the controller shown |45 adjacent the cam |44 and from Fig. 1 it may in Fig. 9; f 'be seen that the shaft |45 is xed against longi- Fig. 13 is a transverse vertical section taken -tudinal motion by the ratchet Wheel` and a G- along the line |3|3 of-Fig. 9, and showing the 60 washer |66 on opposite sides of the support |41.

Referring now to Fig. 3, it may be seen that the pawl and ratchet mechanism comprises an arm |81 pivotally mounted upon a stud |88 secured to the support |41. The arm |81 carries at the end opposite the pivot a pawl |88 pivotal- 1y mounted upon the arm |81 at |1|. The pawl `very well be made up of a plurality of sepa- |88 is provided with a toothed portion |12 biased into engagement with the ratchet wheel by a spring |13 connecting the outer end of the pawl to the intermediate portion of a dog |14 provided with a toothed portion |15 engaging the ratchet wheel and pivotally secured to the support |41 by a stud |18. The spring |13 thus maintains the toothed portions of the pawl and dog in engagement with the ratchet wheel and tends to move both the pawl and ratchet into coincidence with a line passing through the pivot poin-ts I1| and |18. Rotation is imparted to the ratchet wheel by the cam |44 which is adapted to engage a projection I 11 formed inlermediate the ends of the arm i 81 and by a curved spring |18 which forces the projection |11 to follow the periphery oi' the cam. 'I'he spring |18 is mounted upon a stud |18 secured to the support |41.

'I'he removable portion |31 of the sequential controller comprises a cup shaped metallic housing |82. the rear open end of which is closed by a circular disc |83, also made of suitable insulating material. The disc |83 forms a support for a cam shaft |84 which is driven by shaft |45 through the plug-in driving connection illustrated in Fig. 2. From this figure, and from Figs. 7 and 8, it may be noted that the driving connection comprises a female coupling member, such as the perforated disc |85 secured to the shaft |45 and mounted in a central recess formed in insulating plate |53. The male coupling member is a circular disc |88 simply secured to the adjacent end of shaft |84 and yprovided with a finger |81 extending into the perforation provided in disc |85.

'I'he support |83 also carries a plurality of prong connectors I 88 extending through insulating plates |52 and |53 into the sockets |8| so that the front portion |31 of the receptacle may be removed as a unit from the fixed portion of the controller.

The cam shaft |84 is journaled at its front end in a bearing |8| carried by a transversely extending relatively narrow strip 82 secured to the support |83 by spacing blocks |83 through which extend screw bolts 84.

The housing |82. which is provided at its front end with a centrally located aperture |85 through which the end of shaft |84 extends, is secured to the support |83 independently of rthe cam shaft by screw bolts 88 extending through spacing blocks |81. The screw bolts |88 are also threaded into a dial plate |88 secured thereby to the front of the cover |82. An indicating knob |88 is secured to the front end of the shaft |84 by suitable means, such as the set screw 20|.

'I'he multiple switch operating cam 202 is xedly secured to shaft i 84 between the transverse support |82 and the insulating support |83 and is spaced from the latter by an insulating spacing block 203. From Figs. 1 and 2 it may be seen that the cam comprises four operating portions 202A to 202D, inclusive, each of a different diameter. The diameters of the respective portions increase with the distance of the portion from the support |83. While the cam is shown to be integral in form, it may cam shapes.

rate sections.

The cam portions have associated therewith a plurality of circumferentially displaced resilient arms 205A to 205D generally parallel to the shaft |84, but provided with fingers 208 adapted to engage the cam surfaces. Secured to the finger portions 206 of the respective arms, are movable contacts 201A to 201D, inclusive. Each of the arms is secured to the support |83 by its associated prong connector |88, which is provided with a shoulder 208 engaging the outside of support |83 and with a portion adapted to be peened over as indicated at 208 (see Fig. 2) to secure the contact carrying arm to the support. In order to add to thel strength of the Acontact carrying arms, the intermediate portions thereof are formed relatively wide and are then cut out, as indicated at 2|0. Accidental movement of the contact arms is further prevented by providing each with a flange 2|| extending into a complementary recess formed in the sup- DOrt |83.

Associated with the movable contacts 281A to 201D, inclusive, are a series of fixed contacts 2|2A to 2|2D, inclusive, displaced radially inward from the movable contacts and mounted upon a unitary stamping 2| 3 of relatively heavy and substantially non-resilient material connected to prong connector |88E and secured thereby and by a rivet 2|4 to the support. From Figs. 5 and 6 it may be seen that the stamping 2|3 extends substantially all the way around the cam shaft |84, and that the fixed contacts 2|2 carried thereby are displaced radially inward from their associated movable contacts 281.

In applying the controller to a machine such as an automatic washing machine the terminal |58 adapted for cooperation with the connector |88E is connected to one side of a power line and the other terminals are connected to mechanism to be controlled such as motors, inlet and drain valves, etc. The shaft |84 is normally in the off position in which all ofthe contacts 201 are disengaged and in order to start the machine the operator turns the shaft through handle |88 to a 'position in which one of the contacts closes. This preferably starts the motor in housing section |4| to drive the cam |44 and may also operate one or more of the mechanisms in the machine.

Rotation of the cam |44 causes the lever |81 to swing about its pivot so that it intermittently turns the ratchet wheel |64 and the shaft |45.

which drives the shaft |84. As this latter shaft turns it connects and disconnects the switches in predetermined series in accordance with the It will be apparent that any desired circuit connections may be made to obtain any desired sequence of operations, as for example in the copending application of Rex Earl Bassett, Jr., and John W. Chamberlain, Serial No. 129,429, led March 6, 1937, which matured into Patent No. 2,165,884 on July 1l, 1939.'

Since the cams need only move the contacts between fully closed and fully open positions they may be formed of arcuate sections having only two different radii connected by sloping portions. As seen in Figure 5 each cam portion may have two or more radius changes throughout its circumference to open and close its switch two or more times in one revolution. The connecting portions are made of less circumferential length than the distance through which the cam is moved by each intermittent drive operation and are so arranged with respect to the ratchet that the switch will 'bemoved from closed to open position during one driving operation. i

If it is desired to omit or shorten any of the operations' controlled by the controller, the

operator may grasp the handle |99 and tum of the means for changing a vconstant rotaryA motion into an intermittent rotary motion has been modified, and the cam and switch structure has been placed adjacent to the last mentioned means.

Referring particularly to Fig. 9, it may be noted that the controller comprises a fixed rear housing 22| and a movable front housing 222. The former comprises a pair of spaced apart circular end supports 223 and224 made of insulating material, and an intermediate metallic suppont 225. The supports are held in spaced apart relationship by a plurality of spacing blocks 226 between supports 223 and 225 and a plurality of longer spacing blocks 221 between supports 224 and 22.5. Screw bolts 228 secure the rear support 223 to the blocks 221, and screw bolts 229 extending through support 22.4, spacing blocks 221 and support 225 into threaded engagement with the spacing blocks 226 secure the remaining parts together.

Power is supplied to the controller by means of a flexible shaft 23| adapted to drive a shaft 232 journaled for rotation in a pair of external bosses 233 and 234 formed integrally with the rear support 223. A- carn 235 is secured to the front end of shaft 232 for the purpose of im- -parting intermittent forward motion to a cam shaft 236 through a pawl and ratchet mechanism about to be described.

In the description of the pawl and ratchet mechanism, reference is had particularly to Figs. 9, 12, 13 and 14. From these figures it may be noted that the cam shaft 236 is journaled fory rotation in a bearing 231 mounted centrally of the intermediate support 225 and in a com-.

bined bearing and spacing block 239 mounted centrally of the front support 224. A ratchet wheel 24| is secured to a hub 242 xedly mounted to a reduced portion of the cam shaft 236 adjacent the intermediate support 225. The ratchet wheel is actuated by a pawl 243 provided with a toothed portion 244 adapted to engage the ratchet Wheel and pivotally mounted at v245 to the free end of a pivotally mounted pawl carrying arm 246.

The arm 246 is pivotally mounted upon a stud 241 carried by the intermediate'support 225. Oscillatory movement is imparted to the arm 246 by the cam 235 and a spring 248, the former moving the arm in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 13, by means of a projecting nger 249 formed integrally with the arm 246 and extending into cooperative relationship with cam 235 through an aperture 25| formed in the intermediate support 225. The spring 248 moves the arm 246 in a clockwise direction whenever 3 the projecting nnger its. raus or: the high point of the cam.

From Fig. 13 it may be noted that the spring is attached to a stud 252 mounted on pawl 243, and a similar stud 253'mounted upon a dog 254 pivotally mounted upon a stud 255 secured to the support 225 and provided, with a toothed portion 256 adapted to engage the ratchet wheel and prevent retrograde movement of the ratchet wheel and cam shaft 236. 'Ihe'pawl and dog have lengths approximately equal toene-half the length of arm 246 and the toothed portions thereof are adjacent one another.

It may be noted from Fig. 13 that the studs 252 and 253 carrying the spring are so' arranged with respect to the pawl -243 and dogl 254 that they are slightly above a line passing-through the centers of the pivot points `245 and 255.

Thus, both the pawl and'dog are biased into engagement with the ratchet wheel. The spring 244 also serves the additional purpose of maintaining the finger 249 of the arm 246 in engagement with the surface of cam 235.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 14, it may be noted that the spring 248 has a tendency to move the toothed portion of pawl ,243 out of engagement with the ratchet wheel, because the spring is placed to one side of the pawl. However, this tendency is eliminated ,to a certain extent by providing the pawl carrying arm'246 with a second projecting finger 251 adapted to engage the rear portion 258 ofthe cam 259 mounted on the cam shaft ports 224 and 225.

The cam 259 is similar in construction to thc cam 202 of the last described modication, except for certain minor details. It is provided with a plurality of cam portions 259A to 259D, inclusive, the diameters of which increase with the distance of the portion from the front support 224. The cam is mounted upon a hub 26| provided with an annular shoulder 262 lying in a recess formed in the front end of the cam and peened over as indicated at 263 to secure in place an annular disc 264 mounted in a recess formed in the rear end of the cam. The cam is intermediate the supspaced from the bearing and spacing block 238` disposed contact carrying arms 261A to 261D, in-

clusive, substantially identical in construction with the contact carryingarms 205 of the last described modification. The contact carrying arms lie substantially parallel to the axis of the cam shaft 236 and are secured to the support 224 by the prong contacts 21| provided with shoulders 212 and a peened portion 21.3 on opposite sides of thesupport. Movement of the contact carrying arms is further prevented by forming them with fingers 214 adapted to t into recesses formed in the support 224.

The arms 261 carry contacts 215A to 215D and each has an extending portion 216 adapted to engage corresponding cam portions 259A to 259D, respectively. Each of the movable contacts 215A to 215D has associated therewith a xed contact 2011A to 211D, respectively, carried ona substantially rigid support 218.

As stated previously, the arms carrying the movable contacts need not be made of expensive resilient material for the reason that the disengagement of the contacts is not made to depend upon the resiliency, but rather upon the rapidity with which the cam shaft is actuated by the cooperative action of the cam 235 and spring 248 associated with the pawl and ratchet mechanism.

'I'he prong contacts 21| of the fixed receptacle are adapted to enter sockets 28| secured in a manner heretofore described to a three-part support 282 secured to the casing 222 by a bentover tongue portion 283 formed at the rear end of the latter. The casing 222 is provided With a flanged opening 28| through which the various conductors lead to the terminal portions 285 of the various sockets.

It is not believed necessary to describe the connections of the conductors to the sockets and switch members for the reason that this has been adequately described above. Suffice it to say that the connections are generally the same aS those of Figures 1 to 8.

To the front end of the cam shaft 236 is attached the indicating knob 281., the end of the shaft projecting through a central opening 288 formed in the closed front portion 289 of the casing 222. The cam shaft 23E is insulated from the prong contacts and conductors by an insulating sleeve 28| exending substantially the length of the casing 222 and held in place by a collar 292 forced on the cam shaft near the closed portion 288 of the casing 222.

While a number of modified forms of the sequential controller of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the specific details thereof nor otherwise than by the terms of the appended claims.

All of the subjecting matter described above is fully disclosed in my application Serial N0. 141,078 filed May 6, 1937.

What is claimed is:

l. In a sequential controller mechanism of the type adapted to be plugged into a socket, the combin tion including supports a sectional shaft journaled for rotation thereon, means including a ratchet wheel on said shaft and paWl mechanism mounted on the first of said supports for driving said shaft with a step-by-step motion in a predetermined direction, -a cam mounted on said shaft, said cam comprising a plurality of. sections of varying outside diameters arranged so that the cam nearest one of said supports has the' smallest diameter, and switch members arranged on said one support circumferentially of said cams and paralleling said shaft and arranged for operation by said cams.

2. A sectional switch unit comprising a receptacle provided wtih electrical terminal sockets and with a prime mover, in combination with a unit including a support, contact prongs adapted to engage said sockets and extending through said support, circuit controlling switch members secured in spaced apart relation on said support by said contact prongs, a shaft journaled in said support and provided with a plug-in drive connection to said prime mover, and a cam secured to said shaft and provided with cam surfaces adapted to engage predetermined ones of said switch members for controlling said circuits.

3. A sequential controller including, in combination, a prime mover comprising a constant speed motor and a cam rotated thereby, a support adjacent to said cam, a second support spaced therefrom, -a shaft mounted for rotation on said supports and projecting through said rst support, a ratchet wheel mounted on said projecting end, a pawl mechanism pivotally mounted on said first support and actuated by said cam to impart one way step-by-step movement in a predetermined direction to said shaft, said second support being provided with a plurality of sockets connected to electrical circuits and the end of the shaft supported therein being provided with a female driving connection, a cam unit provided with prong connectors and a male driving connection adapted to be plugged into said second support, said cam unit comprising a pair of supports, a shaft journaled for rotation therein and extending through the outermost one of said supports, a multiple surface cam mounted on said shaft, circuit controlling switch members secured by said prong contacts to the support adjacent said second support, and

. an indicator mounted on the outer end of said second shaft for rotating said shaft, and means associated with said ratchet wheel for preventing rotation of said shafts in-a direction opposite to said predetermined direction.

4. In a time controlled circuit controller of the type adapted to be plugged into a socket, the combination including a rotatable shaft, a cam constructed of insulating material and with a plurality of sections having different diameters, a plurality of movable switch members provided with fingers extending into cooperative relation with said cam sections, supporting means for said members including a support constructed of insulating material, and prong connectors extending through said support and adapted to lit into said sockets, said prong connectors being made in the form of rivets for securing said movable switch members to said support.

5. In a time controlled circuit controller of the type adapted to be plugged into a multiple circuit socket, the combination including a rotatable shaft, a cam constructed of insulating material and with a plurality of sections having different diameters, a support of insulating ma.- terial arranged adjacent said cam with a series of apertures equally spaced from the center thereof, a plurality of prong connectors extending through said support for and adapted to be plugged into said socket, resilient conducting switch arms secured to said support by said prong contacts, said arms extending generally axially of saidv shaft and having fingers adapted to cooperate with said cam sections, and lixedly mounted switch members displaced radially inward from said resilient arms and engageable thereby.

6. A sequential controller comprising a shaft, a multiple cam mounted on said shaft and having a plurality of cam portions displaced axially along said shaft and which are of progressively increasing size, a support at the end of the shaft beyond the smallest of the cam portions, a plurality of elongated resilient contact members mounted on said support and arranged in annular array around and substantially parallel to said shaft engaging said cam portions respectively whereby the switch members will be moved in predetermined sequence as the cam rotates, and means for rotating said shaft.

REX EARL BASSETT, Ja.

and provided 

